Behaviors of the Begotten

The Apostle John summarizes how we become children of God. God made a plan to redeem us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16) Through faith in God’s only begotten Son we will be saved. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

The same love that made the plan and fulfilled its requirements, also made a way for our adoption as His children. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). When we become His children, we become “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As new creations we should display new behaviors – the behaviors of God’s children.

Believers are to express God’s righteousness through our actions. “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29). Further, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:10).

Righteousness involves refraining from sin. “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His Spirit abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9). The Holy Spirit which drew us to believe, resides in us to help us avoid sinning. Similarly, 1 John 6:18 teaches that Jesus works to keep us from evil, “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God [Jesus] keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

Righteousness also expresses God’s love. The love of God and the love of fellow believers are interwoven. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Expressing God-defined love demonstrates that we know God – His character, compassion and requirements.

Righteous behavior also demonstrates love for our Savior – Jesus. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:1).

Finally, the children of God love not the world but overcome the world with its false gods and temptations. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith” (1 John 5:4).

The behavior of believers is to know God, and to practice His love and His righteousness.